Door-operating mechanism for railway-cars.



F. SEABERG.

DOOR GPERATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APFLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1911. 4

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IFBEDERICK SEABERG, Oli CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOIR. TG NATION'AL DUMIE' C COMPANY, CHICAG, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MA'I'INE.

DOOR-OPERATING MIECHANISM I EOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patenz.

P&BH Aug. 24, 1915.

Applica/don fi1ed February 17, 1911. Serial No. 609,198.

To all wlwm it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK SEABERG, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Operating Mechar1i'sm for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a Clescription,- reference being had to the accompanying drawings, Which form a part of my specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for operating the dumping doors of a car, being more especially adapted for use in connection Wit hthe hopper-bottom type of cars, wherein the doors form a part of the hopper, and open through the aotion of gravity.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient mechanism that Will simultaneously operate the doors to both sides of the longitudinal center of the car,

and Which Will at the same time automatically look the doors When they are brought to a closed position, as Will more fully appear from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, whereinz- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a dump car provided with my improved door operating mechanism; the doors being shown closed. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig'. 1. Fig.

3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking downward. Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

I have shown my invention in Fig. 1 applied to that class of dump cars which are provided with a dumping hopper-bottom arranged longitudinally of the car ,of which I have shown my invention in Fig. 1 applied to that class of dun'1p cars which are provided with a dumping hopper-bottom arranged longitudinally of the car, of which the dumping doors form a part; the doors when closed forming a V-shape hopper-bottom in cross seotion. The doors extend longitudinally of the car between the trucks and constitute what may be termed two swinging dumping sections 5 and 6 ai; opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car; one or more doors being arranged on the same side of the longitudinal center lime. v

The doors 5 and 6 are suitably pivoted at the points 7 to the frame or longitudinal sills of the car in a well known manner.

Yieldingly mounted or secured to the door 6, by the plate 8, see Fig. 2, is a shaft 9, wh1ch extends longitudinally beneath the door or doors to the other end of the dumping section, at Which point it is provided, if' desired, with mechanism substantially similar to that noW to be described.

The shaft 9 is provided atits end or ends with the link or arm 10, which is secured to the shaft against rotation tl1ereon.

Pivotally secured to the outer end of the link 01 ann 10 is a connecting link or bar 11. This link or bar 11 is also secured to the shaft 12. This shafl: 12 exten'ds longitudinally benezytli the door 5, locatecl at the oppos1te side of the longitudinal center line of the car.

The cloors 5 and 6 bear or resi; on the shafts 9 and 12 and are held in place thereby.

'lhe plate 8 is provided with a slot as shown in Fig. 2, so that shafi': 9 may have slight lateral movement transversely of the door, during the operation thereof.

Connecting link or bar 11 is preferably composed of the two members 11 and 11", see F ig. 3, arranged on opposite sides of the link or arm 10; and these memloers 11 and 11, by reason of their relation to the shafts and arm 10, and the manner in which they are secured in place, are bent or bowed al; a. point intermediate of their ends, so as to permit the axes of the respective pivotal points-namely, the point of connection between arm 10 and link-members 11 11 and shafts 9 and 12-t0 occupy substantially the same horizontal plano, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The link or arm 10 is so secured to the shaft 9, that it will extend out in a substan-i tially horizontal direction when the doors are either completely closed or opened. By

having the link or arm 10 pivoted between the bifurcations oif' link or bar 11, or itS separate members 11 or 11", as shown in the drawings, and havi ng the link or bar 11 take, over the shaft 9, as shown, it is apparent that the end of link 01 bar 11 cannot drop appreciably below the horizontal plano or dead center of the pivotal points between the links and shafts. With the construotion wherein the pivotal point between arm 10 and link 11 are as shown and de scribed, the operation of the mechanism is made very easy, and the droppin of the pivotal point, between links 10 and 1, below the dead eenter, would necessitate the exertion of' enter 'force-to lift the arms above the ead center. It is apparent,

- however, thai; even if said point should be somewhat below the horizontal plana, ii. is-

;formed to receive any suitable operatingdevice.- Ths rotatable shaft 13 ma; either be mounteiat an intermediate po1nt in the car, as shown in Fig. 1, between the dumpin sections on the same side of the longii;u 'nal center line of the car, or it maybe mounted at either end of the dumping sections, if desired. Secured to this shafi; 13

and adapted to be .wound about it, is the flexible connection or chain 14, one end of which is also secured to the link or arm 10."

.I have. illustrated the connection between the flexible connection or chain 14, ami the link or arm 10, in the shape of the long link 15. This link 15 is preferably made to take to both sides of arm 10 and be pivotally secured thereto, while the outr end thereof is pref-. erably ben-t, as illustrated in Fig. 2, tliereby providing means for maintaining the flexible connection 14 in proper relation with the v ends or pivotal connect1on between am 10 and bar 11.

' An arm 16, which may e1ther be a. separate member or forme(l inte lwith arm 10, extends from -shaft 9 in t e opposite direction to arm 10. This arm-16 is connected with shaft 13 by the-flexible connection or chain 17; the chain 17 is secured to the shaift 13 and arranged to wind thereon in the reviarse directiog to the windin of the flexible conneci:ion or chain 14. hain 17 is broughi. up between the two members of link 11 as clea.rly shown in Fig. 3, and is therefore constantly maintained in prper position durin the operaiaion of the doors.

Ii; 1s apparent shown and described thai: when it is desired to open the doors, shafi; 13 must be rotated in a direction which would iend to up chain 14, thereby slacking or unwmdingchain 17 this operation will compel the chain 14 to pull up against the ends or pivotal connection between arm 10 and bar 11, thereby forcing the pivotally connected ends of bars 10 and 11 up above the horizontal plano or dead center, in which the 'pivoted ends are shown in full lines-in Fi 2, The moment this has been accomplishefi, the weight of the doors and theload will complete the further movmeni; of. the mech-. anism to allow the furtherf:jgening of the doors. When the doors are y opened, the

from the construction operating iiiechanisin a. closedposition and the Operating mechanism into a locking' osition, the shaft 13 is rotated in an opPos1te direction to thai; in which ii; waS rotated i;o release the mechanism, so as to wind up the chain 17, and mwind chain 14. The winding up of chain 17 ,-the one end of which is secured to the end of arm 16 which has now been moved to a position away from the longitudinal center line of the car as shown in dotted lines, Fig'. 2,-will iminediately apply'pressure ontheiVotal point betweeri arm 10.

andbar 11, ich point, when the doors are open, 'Will be intermediate of' the shafts 9 and 12, as clearly shown in dotted lines, Fig.

2. Theupward pressure of the chain 17 on this piVotal poini; will immediately i;hrow

the coxnection upward and dra.w arm 16 downward and around from the position shown in dotted lines; the continued rotation of shaft 13 swinging arms 10 and 16- aboui: shafi; 9 so as to move tliepoini: of connection between arms 10 andmembers 11 and 11 away from a position between 'shafts 9 and 12; and this moVement compels the,

shafts 9 and 12 to ride upward on their respective brackets or tracks, thereby bringing the mechanism back to the normal or ocking position shown by the full lines in.

l7hen desired, the .sloping brackets or tracks 18 and 19, of the construction shown in Fig.2, may be employed, so that the weight of the doors and the load thereon may be transmitted through shafts 9 and 12 to the tracks or braokets 18 and 19.

The hat lre of my door operating mechanism is such, thai; after the doors haVe been brought, to a closed position, with the respective 1'3ivotal 'points betwen the arm, bar and shafts, thrown into substantially the same horizontal plano, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the mechanism will look the shafts 9 and 12 in the positionsadjacent to the longitudinal center line of the car, and the shafts in turn -Will hold the doors in place independently of the operating shaft 13 and chains 14 and 17, so that any slack in the chains will not release the doors, the latter being firmly 'secured in place until anupward pull has been applied to the proper' chain, namely chain 14. v

I have shown and described what I believe to be the simplest construction or form of my inventon, but the same may be varied in certain -details without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wishto be understood ,as limiting mygelf to {7)hf exact construction shown and described,

What I c1aim and wish to scure by I1etters Patent is:-

1. Operating mechanism for the doors of a hopper car which are arranged to swing toward end avvay from each other, to close and open respeetively, comprising a. rotatable shaft, means having a, controlling relation With the doors at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the. car, said meansbeing provided with a yielding point internediate of its ends edapfted to 'move from a point intermediate of the free ends of the doors to a, point at one side of the point of connection with one of the doors, whereby the position of the doors is controlled, and flexible connections betvveen the shaft and said means and so related to the y ielding point in said means that the rotat1on of said. 'shaft in one direction Wil1 move said point to open the doors While the rotation in the opposite direction Wil1 move the point to close the doors.

2. Operating mechanism for the doors of a hopper car, the doors being hinged at their outer sides so as to swing toward each other WhGI1 they are moved to closed position,

comprising a rotatable shaft, means h.ving operative relation with oppositely disposed doors, extending in a transverse direction, angil provided With an intermediate pivotal po1nt, end flexible means intermediate of the shaft and said first mentioned means ami so related thereto that the rotation of the shaft in different directions W11 move the mtermediate pivotal point of said first mentioned means tovvard or avvay from the longitudina'l center line of the car toeither open or close the doors respectively.

3. Operating mechanism for the doors of a hopper car, wherein the free ends of the doors abut against each other When the doors are in closed position, comprising a rot atable shaft, means having operative relat1on with the oppositely disposed doors ang provided With an intermediate pivotal po1nt, end a pair of members intermediate of the shaft and Said means, said members being adapted to extend about the sha.ft in opposite directions, the members being so connected to said means that one member Will control the pivotal point of the means when the doors are closed, while the other member wil1 control the pivotal point of said means When the doors are opened.

4. Operating mechanism for the doors of a hopper car arranged to swing toward and away from each other to close or open respectively, comprisin'g pivotally mounted members having operative relation vvlth the doors on oppos1te sides of the long1tud1 nal centef line of the car, said members bemg pivotally connected together end so a1- ranged that the oint ofconnect1on oetween said members w111 be moved in a d1rect1on toward or away from the longitudinal cen-,

of the members in one direction to open the doors, while rotation in the opposite directi0n of the shaft vvi1l close the doors and look them in position.

5. Operating mechanism for the hopper doors of' a dump car vvherein the doors are hinged at their outer 'sides so as to swin toward each other vvhen moved to close position, comprising means whereby oppositely disposed doors ere simultaneously oontrolled, a portion of said means extending lengthwise beneath the doors to support the same, While the other portion extends transversely of the doors end controls the position of the first mentioned portion, a rotatable shaft operable from either side of the car, and positive flexible connections between the shaft and the last mentioned portion of said. means whereby said portion is operated so as to move the first mentioned portion of the means toward. or away from the longitudinal center line of the car to open or close the doors respectively.

6. Operating mechanism for the hopper doors of a dump car-vvhose free ends abut against each other when the doors are vclosek, comprising means pivotally mounted point to move said means into locking or unlocking positons.

7. Operating mechanism for the downwardly swingmg doors of a hopper car,

wherein the doors are arranged to swing toward ea.ch othervvhen moveoi to closed position, comprising a member rotatively mounted beheath each door, the members of oppositely disposed doors being conr1ected together and so arranged that the po1nt of connection betw een said members may be moved to either side of one of the members beneath the doors, end means connected to one of said members so as to apply pressure to the pivotal connection between the members whether the members are in locking or unlocking position.

8. @perating meehanism for the hopper doors of a dump car, comprising means extending transversely of the car whereby oppositely dispos'ed doors are controllably connected together end locked in closed position, a rotatable shaft, end a ai! of flexible members connected with sa1d shaft and said. means and adapted to move said means in adirection transversely of the car when the shaft is rotated in either direction.

9. Operating mechanism for the hopper.

being such that one member will aifect the.

intermediate yeldin point of the means when the latter is in%ocking position; While the other member wil1 afi'ect said yielding point when the means is in an unlocking position.

10. Operating mechanism for the grvity opening doors of a. dump car, comprising an operating shaft extending transversely ofthe car, means extending transversely 01 the car and having controlling relation with the doors on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car, said means being provided with an intermediate yielding point which s adapted to be moved toward or avvay from the longitudinal center line of the car, and a pair of flexible members secured to said shaft so as to extend about the shaft inopposite directions when the latter is rotated, said members being a1so Connected to said means so that the one member Wil1 extend about said intermediate yielding poirit when the means is moved into locking positiori, While the other member wll extend about said intermedi.te yelding point when said means-is moved into unlocking ally connected together and. extending transversely of the car, having operative relation with the doors at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car, and a pair 'of fiexible members adapted to extend about said operating shaft in opposte. directons when the latter s rotated, said flexible members being a1so secured to ne of thetrans versely, extending mer nbers so as to engage with the piVotal connectin between the transversely extending members whether the latter are in locking or unlocking postions.

12. Operating mechanism for the oppositely sWinging doors of a. hopper car, comprising a pair of linkshaving;operative re- Iation wth the doors on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car,- said links being pivotally connected together so as to permit the pivotal point to move to a. point intermediate of the doors when the latter areopened and intermediate of the car-side and the adjacent door when the doors are closed, and means connected to the car frame and to one of said links so as to force the Pivotal connection between the lnks and move the links nto locking or unlockng postions.

13. Opera-ting mechanism for the hopper doors of a dump car comprising means whereby the oppositely disposed doors are simultaneously controlled, said means being provded Wth an intermediate yelding co1 1-- nection adapted to move through a curv1- linear path to a. point intermediate of the doors when the latter are opened. and between the car-sde and one of. the adjacent doors when the latter are closed, a. rotatable shaft, and a pair of fiexible connections beftween the shaft and sad means adapted to force said. intermedate yielding connecton toward or avvay from the longtudinalcenter line of the car and thereby unlock or look the doors.

14. Operating mzachanism for the down- -"Wardly opem'ng doors of a car arranged to disposed doors, said members being yeldingly connected together so that said connection ma.y be swung toward or away from the longitudinalcenter line of the car, a rota table shaft, and a, pair of flexible members between the shafj: ami one of said first mentioned members, adapted. to e'xtend about the shaft in opposite directions when the shaft s r ot'ated, sad flexible members being; so connected with said first mentioned member that; one of the flexible members w11 have controlling rlption with the yielding connection between the first mentioned members when the Ia'tter are in locking positio-Iifivhile the Other flexible member Will have controlling relation with said. yielding conn ection when the .first mentioned members are m unlockin position.

,15. perating mechanism for the downwardly opening oppositely disposed doors,

-tio'n, a rotatable sha'ft, and a air of flexible menbers.adapted to extend a out theShaft in opposite directions whenthe latter is ro-" tated and also' connected With a portion of said.means at opposite sides of the point where sa.id means contacts' With the free end 'of one of the doors, whereby the means may be moved into locking and unlocking positions.

16. Mechani sm for operating downwardly -pening oppositely d1sposed doors of a.

dump car, sad doors being adapteai ho swing toward ami avvay from each other to close and pen respectively, comprising means having movement transversely of the doors durng operation of said mechanism ami adapted to support the doors, transversely dsposed means provided wth an intermediate yeldng pont and connected with said first mentioned means, the relation between both means being such that said intermediate yielding point and points of connection Will occupy substantally thesame horizontal plana when the doors are closed thereby automatically locking the doors ndependently of other portions of said mechanism, and means operable from either side of the car and arrangel to mme said second-mentioned means nto locking and unlocking p0- sitions.

17. A dump cm having an unobstructed center discharge opening, oppostely swinging doors hinged at the outer sdes of the openng, means having operative reation With the oppositely disposed doors or supporting them in closed position and automatically lock the same when moved to one position, means located beneath and supporting the first7mentionel means, means fo1' simultaneously displacng the first mentioned means to permit the doors to open, said displacing means being adapted to move about a fixed axs operable from either side of the car.

18. A dump car having an unobst1ucced center discharge opening, oppositely swinging doors hinged at the outer sides of the opening, shafts beneath the doors, supports for said shafts secured to the under frame of the car, .said shafts being moved toward and away from each other to close and open the doors respectively, connections between the shafts where by both shafts are simultaneously operated and the doors and shafts locked in closed position independently of the other portions of said mechansm, a.nd means for operating the connections between the shaf'ts, "said means being adapted to move about a fixed axis operable r0m either side of the car.

19. A dump car having an unobstructed center discharge opening, oppositely swinging doors hnged at the outer sides of the opening, shafts beneath the doors or supporting them in closed position, and being displaceable from their supporting position to permit the doors to open, one of said 20. Operating mechanism for the doors of a dump car having an unobstructed center dscharge openng in Which the oppositely moors are hinged at the outer sides of the openng, comprsing means located beneath the doors ami hav1'ng controllng relaton with the oppositely disposed doors whereby the atter are supported and locked in closed position, and means having a fixed rotative relation With ami extending transversely 0 the car so as to be operable from both sides of the car whereby said first mentione means is moved out of and into sad supporting positon.

21. @perating mechanism for,the hopper floors of a dump car which are adapted to swing toward and away from each other to closa ami open respectively, comprising means adapted to support the oppositely disposed doors, sad mea'ns being provided with 311 intermediate yielding point whereby the doors will be locked in c1osed position when said means is moved into one positon, means secured to th frame of the car and provid- J'11g a track-way or said first mentoned means whereby the latter is held in proper relaton with sad doors, ami means extendng transversely of the car operable from either side of the car and arranged to move the first mentioned means into lockng and FREDERICK SEABERG.

Witnesses M. E. STO'U'TENBURGH', W. J. RYAN. 

